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T O P I C R E V I E W

neo1022

Came across this article ranking space collectibles (particularly flown and signed items) as the no. 1 "Luxury Collectible" investment for 2014. The rationale? Only 12 moonwalkers, all old (or dead), and no significant manned flights in the foreseeable future.

I wonder, though — just how "Boomer-based" is this market? And what will happen when the Space Race generation ages (or dies) and their collections hit the market? Should we expect a glut of nice items coming out of collections and onto the market in the next few years?

That said, the recent auctions seem to be setting new records, with stratospheric closing prices of many items. Any thoughts?

Hart Sastrowardoyo

Bad economy and people feeling there's stability in investing in collectibles?

neo1022

Hart, it's clear the bad economy has not been bad for everybody. Check out the big space auctions and their crazy closing prices — demand seems as strong as ever, and every year seems to set new records. So clearly, there's still a lot of "discretionary spending" going on...

fredtrav

The article seemed riddled with errors or incorrect assumptions.

First Neil Armstrong's autograph is not rare, there are untold thousands out there. Also when is the last time you have seen even a flawless example sell for five figures? I have seen the value of his autographs dropping the last year not rising. There was a very nice unfaded inscribed signed photo that just sold on eBay for about $900.

Yes the flags carried on Apollo 11 might increase in value as well as some other truly rare artifacts like the flown checklists. I am not a Robbins collector so I have not been following their prices, but it does seem that Gemini flown Fliteline medallions have gone down in price lately. Flown flags from other missions have also dropped considerably in the past couple of years.

As our original astronauts age and pare down their items, we may see more of the same. Al Worden's flown Apollo 15 flags have been sold under $1000. Most of us know what Jim McDivitt's flown Gemini and Apollo flags sold for on Astronaut Central.

Yes, the amount of material is finite, but that has been the case since the end of the Apollo program, the difference is, I think, we will see more of them available as more of the people these were gifted to either sell them, or pass away and the estate sells them. My least favorite forum here is the Space Explorers and Workers. I have this current of dread every time I see a new red dot there as we lose someone else.

More collections seem to be coming up for sale. If this trend continues it will drive down prices further. As our generation ages and with the lack of interest from younger generations continues, I see prices falling, not rising. Already autographs of the shuttle astronauts, of course with some exceptions, have fallen quite a bit. I am seeing more sell in the $5-$10 range.

With little driving interest in the program as well as shutdown of the shuttle, I don't see it as prime investment. Maybe when we go back to the moon or Mars, we will see a resurgence.

Unless you afford to buy some of the truly rare pieces like a flag flown to the lunar surface on Apollo 11, or other missions, don't buy as an investment. Buy because it is what interests you, what you have a passion for. Buy it for what it means for you.

SpaceAholic

quote:Originally posted by fredtrav:More collections seem to be coming up for sale. If this trend continues it will drive down prices further.

The number of collectors and hence the demand also continues to grow as more of the world is exposed to space collectables as an investment. The collectables market generally is experiencing an international renaissance with individuals holding dollars looking for alternatives to park their cash... it's more apparent in the art market but also extends to other areas including space.